Portfolio

eLearning Services offers a multitude of solutions for course development. We are experienced at tackling difficult topics with an innovated approach. We treat subjects like we do our clients with a specialized solution for each individual challenge. Here is a small sample of our work.

Learning Modules

A learning object is a small unit of educational material, usually in a digital format, delivered over the Internet. Learning objects are designed so that they are reusable in different course structures or learning management systems.

Project Description

Color my Meals Healthy: Whole Grains Activity Quiz

Challenge.
The Illinois Nutrition Education and Training (NET) Program's "Color My Meals Healthy" online course includes a component on how to identify food products that are whole grain.

Solution.
A Flash-based quiz was developed wherein users are asked to choose which of two similar products is whole grain. A Nutrition Facts label and ingredient list is available for each product to help users decide if it is whole grain or not. Immediate feedback is provided for each choice.

Project Description

Reader Response (Project REAL)

Challenge.
Writing quality responses to literature is a skill that elementary and middle school students need to learn. There are different strategies that teachers can use to facilitate quality reader response to literature.

Solution.
A Flash-based module was developed to provide elementary and middle school teachers with strategies for facilitating reader response. The module includes the following topics: (1) components of reader response; (2) reader response facilitators; and (3) assessment. Sample scenarios within the module provide teachers with an opportunity to evaluate reader response.

Project Description

TECH 500 Correlation Demo

Project:
Title: Tech 500 Correlation Demo
Client: Dr. Xueshu Song

Challenge.
The Research in Industry and Technology (TECH 500) course is designed to familiarize students with research methodology as it applies to industry and technology. In this course, students need to understand basic statistical concepts and techniques. One such concept is “correlation”. The challenge for eLearning was to show an abstract (and rather dry) concept in a way that would capture students’ attention.

Solution.
A Flash-based demo was developed to illustrate the concept of “correlation”. Rather than just showing a series of plain scatterplots, we used the analogy of ants invading a picnic to demonstrate what correlation is.

Foundations in Homeland Security

Project:
Title: Foundations in Homeland Security
Client:

Challenge.
The Foundations of Homeland Security course provides the basics of disaster preparedness. It is a study of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tornados as well as “man-made” incidents such as acts of terrorism, chemical spills or release, fire, and explosions.

Solution.
: A variety of Flash-based interactive learning objects were developed that illustrate how specific types of natural disasters/man-made incidents occur and the circumstances that affect their severity . Other learning objects were developed that give information about significant natural disasters/man-made incidents that have occurred in the past.

Project Description

Wind Turbine Generator Physics

Challenge.
The Green Technologies (Tech 305) course is designed to introduce students to environmentally friendly engineering and technological advancements. In this course, students need to understand principles of green technologies which include the principle of wind energy production. The challenge for eLearning was to develop a learning object that demonstrates the physics behind a wind turbine gearbox and its components.

Solution.
A Flash-based demo was developed to illustrate the physics behind the different components of a wind turbine and how these component work together for the proper functioning of the wind turbine.

Project Description

Research Mentoring Simulation

Challenge.
Everyone who is involved in research-related activities needs to be aware of issues that may arise in research mentoring relationships, and how to deal with such issues. They need to be aware of mentor and trainee responsibilities to ensure responsible conduct of research.

Solution.
A Flash-based simulation was developed where users could assume the role of either a research mentor or a trainee, and are presented with scenarios that reflect common issues faced in research mentoring relationships. The scenarios can be explored from both mentor and trainee perspectives. Each scenario offers some possible decisions that would yield a desirable outcome. Feedback is provided in the form of both written comments and a cumulative score for the decisions made.

Project Description

Gerontology: Medication Management for the Older Adult

Challenge.
As part of several courses that engage students in an examination of special advanced practice nursing concerns related to gerontology, Dr. Munroe identified the management of multiple chronic and acute medical conditions and medications in the older population as a critical collection of knowledge and skill for advanced practice nurses to master.

Solution.
A Flash-based simulation was developed in which students review evidence-based recommendations for assessment and treatment of these patients, then take the role of an advanced practice nurse provider caring for simulated patients with complex multiple medication situations. Students complete a patient history and physical assessment, asking and receiving answers to health related questions from the patients perspective and results for diagnostic tests such as blood levels, CAT scans, and vital signs. Students then provide a nursing diagnosis and care plan before leaving the patients room. Students then compare their results with those of an expert practitioner.

Project Description

Firehouse Search & Rescue

Challenge.
The Rochelle-Ogle-Lee Fire Department asked for an innovative, compelling way of connecting and communicating with potential firefighters. As part of a recruitment and retention grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this project intends to introduce potential firefighters and interested others to the basic tenets of the fire service, such as taking care of our own, life before property, and a focus on safety, as well as basic firefighting tactics, such as ventilation, fire behavior, and the role of EMS in emergencies. In addition to this learning focus, the project seeks to motivate potential volunteer firefighters to pursue membership in local volunteer fire departments.

Solution.
A flash-based adventure-strategy game is being designed and developed by eLearning that allows players to identify as a new fire department company officer, make critical and non-critical decisions, and experience their consequences. Not only do player/firefighters solve ordinary fire service problems like house fires, vehicle accidents, and hazardous materials spills by applying basic firefighting philosophies and tactics, they also experience the fun, sometimes quirky life of a firefighter in a firehouse.

Project Description

Conclave: Electing the Pope

Challenge.
Professor Haliczer wished to produce a game for his students, which examines the circumstances and obstacles facing a papal candidate when bidding for the future position as pope.

Solution.
A flash-based game in which users can choose from four papal candidates with different strengths and weaknesses and make influential choices throughout their respective careers in order to achieve the pivotal role as pope. The Conclave focuses on three main parts of the candidates' lives; career decisions which lead up to the promotion of Cardinal, interregnum and the decisive conclave.

Project Description

Data Selection: Match Game

Challenge.
When Faculty Development and the Instructional Design Center came to eLearning to develop games a simulations for a grant they received on Responsible Conduct in Research Mentoring we were honored.

Solution.
A flash-based game was designed to be interactive. "The purpose of this game is to self-test your ability to recall and comprehend the terminology and definitions covered on the topic of Identifying Challenges" module." the entire course is available free on the Faculty Development web site.

Case Studies

Case Studies are an excellent tool for introducing students to a topic or working through process. eLearning Services can build custom case studies if learning objects cannot be located on the Internet for your course.

Project Description

Medical Aspects of Disability in Rehabilition

Challenge.
For the Medical Aspects of Disability in Rehabilitation course, Dr Ouelette wanted a tool that would give her students a chance to practice the process used by vocational rehabilitation counselors when they receive a referral. Steps in this process included identifying (1) potential functional limitations, (2) psycho/social factors, (3) possible vocational impediments and (4) IPE considerations. It was important to Dr Ouelette, that students have to identify which sources of information were needed for each step in the process as well as where to find specific information within each source.

Solution.
A Flash-based simulation/case study was developed where students assume the role of a vocational rehabilitation counselor who has just been given a referral. The simulation/case study walks students through the referral process. Online resources are available throughout and tips are provided to assist those who need help. The module also includes an online journal that students use to write down their findings and then compare to possible answers. This journal is emailed to the professor once the simulation/case study is completed.

Project Description

Threat Assessment Simulation

Project:
Title: Threat Assessment Simulation
Client: Dr. Deb Pender

Challenge.
In an online course focused on crisis intervention in school and community mental health settings, a faculty needed to provide students an authentic online opportunity to practice implementing the threat assessment process.Threat assessments are used by mental health professionals to evaluate the level of severity of threats of violence or self-harm as a basis for a plan of action to address the issues.

Solution.
A highly interactive simulation was created for use by the students as they are learning to perform threat assessments in school and community mental health environments. This simulation allows the learner to practice the threat assessment process, gathering information from many sources including the source of the threat, making judgements and making decisions about appropriate interventions. Learner’s actions and decisions are collected by the simulation and can be submitted to a supervisor/instructor for formative and summative evaluation.

Project Description

IPPFA: Online Certified Trustee Program

Challenge.
The Illinois Public Pension Fund Association (IPPFA) is a not-for-profit organization established to support members in their efforts to manage police and fire pension funds in the state of Illinois. IPPFA offers educational seminars throughout the year and wanted an online course that it could offer to its trustee members, especially those who for a variety of reasons could not attend their other course offerings. For their face-to-face seminars, IPPFA contracts with experts to present on numerous topics and wanted their online course to include this type of expertise and the energy of live presentations.

Solution.
ELS established a Moodle learning management system (LMS) for IPPFA to house the Online Certified Trustee Program. Presentations taking place at a face-to-face seminar were recorded using Adobe Connect software. Not only were presenters recorded with this software, but their PowerPoint slides were also captured simultaneously. The course consists of these Flash-based presentations, PDF handouts and online quizzes to check understanding. Once a student meets course requirements, a link to a Certificate of Completion is activated and IPPFA is notified of the student's achievement.

Project Description

ABA Power Editing I, II & III

Challenge.
The American Bar Association and Gary Kinder contracted with NIU eLearning Services to create interactive online series of modules in advanced writing for lawyers. Ideas and techniques for improving writing are given in all three series. Power Editing Part I showed students how to make their writing more readable by using techniques such as tossing the unnecessary words. Power Editing Part II explained when and how to use passive voice and nominalizations to make sentences clean and lively. Power Editing Part III covered the last step of making the sentences clear, lively, and fast-paced.

Solution.
A mixed solution of HTML and Flash was used to create a web site, tips, examples, and interactive exercises. HTML was used to host all the navigations and materials. As students go through the page, they can click on the Example link to see the animated examples in Flash. When they finish with the examples and ready for the exercises, they can click on the exercise button. A sample sentence is given in each exercise for students to read and edit. When students submit their answer, immediate feedback is given.

Project Description

Critical Choices

Challenge.
eLearning Services along with our partners (NIU’s Department of Counseling, Adult and Health Education, Training Alliance of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, and Training, Inc National Association) were challenged with developing a comprehensive online workplace skills program that would provide low-income and welfare recipients with essential workplace skills. This project was made possible by a 1.5 million dollar grant from the US Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships (LAAP).

Solution.
eLearning Services designed and developed the Critical Choices portal. It consists of a custom learning management system, a Learning Center (16 lessons that include opportunities for learning, self-reflection, application, connecting to previous knowledge and planning for next steps) and a Resource Center (online resources to aid participants in their job search). Lessons in the Learning Center feature Flash and video presentations. The learning environment also offers a variety of interactive experiences including drag-drop activities, journal and discussion board, chat, online forums and surveys. The website’s Help Desk includes an automatic email feature for students who forget their password, an online help form and a frequently asked questions database.